“They prevent real Blue Badge holders from using parking bays designed for those genuinely in need and they cheat the vast majority of road users who play fair when they park their cars.

“Our new Blue Badge will be as secure as a banknote and anyone thinking of faking it can forget it. We are also tightening up on enforcement and eligibility so there will be no way to scam the system.”

The problem is particularly bad in London, which has some of the most expensive parking in the country.

In Wandsworth, for example, a millionaire cosmetic dentist was convicted of using a badge belonging to the late father of his business partner in order to park his £140,000 Ferrari in Putney High Street.

Others convicted of Blue Badge fraud in the borough have included solicitors, bank managers and the owner of a care home for the elderly.

"Abuse of the blue badge system is absolutely rife. These people should hang their heads in shame,” a council spokesman said.

“Not only are they taking away parking spaces from disabled people, but they have no qualms at all about leaving their relatives cruelly cooped up indoors all day just so they can drive to work or go shopping and save themselves a few pennies in parking costs.

“In the USA, police and parking officials have the powers and duty to enforce parking spaces reserved for badge holders – not just on roads but in public and private car parks too – and very heavy fines are levied on offenders.

“There must be much greater emphasis on enforcement by police and local authorities if this parking fraud is to be stopped."